Rockwell Collins Validates Joint Tactical Radio System Software Communications Architecture

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (October 15, 2001) - Rockwell Collins has validated the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Step 2B Software Communications Architecture (SCA) version 1.0 by demonstrating the Link 16 waveform functionality. The company also exceeded all Step 2B contractual requirements, finishing ahead of schedule and under cost. As a result, the U.S. Joint Program Office recently awarded Rockwell Collins a follow-on Engineering Change Proposal to demonstrate Link-16 functionality with the new JTRS SCA version 2.0 configuration, thus further maturing the implementation of the Link 16 waveform.

The Department of Defense sponsors the JTRS program and is responsible for defining, as the joint services standard for all new tactical communications systems, various JTRS hardware configurations. JTRS will be integrated on selected maritime, airborne, fixed-station, ground mobile, manpack and hand-held platforms. It allows secure, mission-specific communication and data link protocols and parameters to be discretely reprogrammed into the radio while in an operational environment.

As required under the JTRS Step 2B contract, Rockwell Collins demonstrated interoperability between a SCA-compliant JTRS radio prototype and legacy Link-16 terminal using the Link-16 waveform to pass several Link-16 messages. During the demonstration, situational awareness data was displayed on a Multi-Function Display (MFD) connected to the legacy Link-16 terminal. The data was sent to the MFD via the JTRS radio prototype. Rockwell Collins also demonstrated that the JTRS architecture simultaneously supports the Link-16 waveform and three additional waveforms. JTRS radio prototype, the SCA compliant core framework and Link-16 waveform software were designed and developed by Rockwell Collins.

Rockwell Collins met and exceeded its Step 2B contractual requirements by implementing the JTRS prototype in an airborne radio form factor. The company also had the JTRS radio search for, acquire and track the network time reference to better approximate the real operational environment and demonstrate end-user to end-user communication.

Rockwell Collins has been prominent in all steps of JTRS development. The company is a member of the Modular Software Radio Consortium that previously developed the JTRS SCA defined under the JTRS Step 1 and Step 2A contracts with the JTRS JPO. Under the Step 2A contract, Rockwell Collins developed a JTRS prototype and implemented the JTRS-compliant High Frequency-Automatic Link Establishment (HF-ALE) waveform software application with the Collins-developed SCA Core framework. In addition, Rockwell Collins successfully demonstrated an ability to port the waveform to another manufacturer’s hardware.

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